J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by LOTA

Without wishing to prolong this discussion too much further, let me tell you a true story.

Back in the late 1970s, I joined a trip from one of the UK's largest dry slopes to an Italian resort, not noted for its 'intimidating' skiing (in fact, it could be best described as terminally intermediate). There were four skiers who had learned on the dry slope over a number of months and were competent parallel skiers on the plastic. On morning one, I found them blundering around half-way down a pretty easy run. They all confessed to being overwhelmed and 'intimidated' by the sheer scale of the mountains, the lift system etc. They booked straight into lessons and by the end of the week were all-mountain heroes, thanks to the grounding they had acquired on the dry slope. It was the mountain not the plastic that they found intimidating.

Yes, real snow is best but sometimes you have to make the best of what's available. :)

Well, we'll just have to disagree on that one. I've used a dry slope (actually it's quite 'wet' given the amount of water sprayed on it!) on a regular basis over many years and still do. There are surprisingly few injuries. I'm sorry to hear you you were concerned about hurting yourself on your outing a few years ago.

However, whatever your fears, the point here is the original posters are beginners. Novices on dry slopes do not ski quickly; it is all very well controlled and I repeat it is a beneficial way of familiarising themselves with the kit and basic manouevres in a benign environment.

Contrary to what the above poster says, the dry slope lessons are a good idea. You'll get used to using the equipment, you'll learn some of the basics in a benign environment without the hustle, bustle, nervousness and excitement of the first day in the resort. The quality of instruction at UK slopes is generally very high.

Please add me in: Lake Tahoe, January 1, 2016

Fair play...'almost every resort in Europe'! Not sure you could do that in a lifetime of skiing.

I'm looking at a slightly complicated Lake Tahoe trip next January and Ski Safari are proving extremely helpful.

San Francisco to Tahoe comparable to driving from London to Manchester? If only, more like London to Glasgow or Edinburgh!

As Dave Mac says, conditions in Glencoe are reported to sublime. It's not all over there, VSB!

I've read that, on occasions, the dam has been drained for the original villagers to return to where their homes were and to hold a service in what remains of the normally-submerged church. Whether this is the case in the pictures, who knows.